Turkish rod export decline breaks 8-month growth streak

Posted on 06 May 2019

Source: Kallanish

Turkish wire rod exports declined -10% on-year in March to 164,194 tonnes, bringing to an end eight consecutive months of increases, according to Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) data monitored by Kallanish. Their average value was $498/tonne versus $582/t in March 2018.

Exports of round rod below 14mm diameter comprised 112,336t, of which Israel took 23,679t and Morocco took 14,813t versus 3,417t and only 243t respectively a year earlier. Spain and Senegal took in 7,874t and 7,076t respectively, down -4% in Spain’s case but up from zero for Senegal.

Belgium’s intake sunk to under 1,000t versus over 82,000t a year earlier. However, Tunisia, Chile and Kosovo took in over 5,000t each versus zero a year earlier.

Exports of deformed reinforcing rod accounted for 50,242t, of which Israel and Haiti took in 19,328t and 17,010t respectively. This was up 50% for Israel and versus zero for Haiti compared to March 2018.

Turkish wire rod exports in the first quarter still rose 9% on-year to 474,789t, with Israel, the Netherlands and Haiti the top three markets in that order.

Despite their March blip, wire rod exports are still performing better than Turkish rebar exports which have been hampered significantly by protectionist measures and changing trade patterns. Turkish rebar exports fell -21% on-year in March to 418,869t, taking Q1 shipments abroad down -14% on-year to 1.32 million tonnes (see Kallanish passim).